Generator for hydrocarbon lighting systems.



0. J. SEEHAUSEN. GENERATOR FOR HYDROGARBON LIGHTING SYSTEMSlkAPPLICATION FILED APB. 6, 1908.

Patented Augd 10, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2( c/T 'eeaeggg;

atlfozwn UNFFED STATES Parana carica.

osCAa'J. sEErIAUsEN, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ONO. 930,891.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Application led April 6, 1908.

Patented Aug. 10, 1909.

Serial No. 425,433.

T o all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OSCAR J. SEEHAUSEN, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented new and useful lmprovements in Generators for HydrocarbonLighting Systems, of which the followingis a specification. y Y.

This invention relates to lightingisystems of that type in which the.gas is produced from a liquid hydrocarbon whichis'vaporized by theapplication of heat and mixed with an appropriate amount of air beforebeing sup lied to the lights, and it relates more particu arly `to agenerator of that character in which theliquid hydro carbon such asalcohol, gasolene or the like, is vaporized by an auxiliary or pilotburner flame and mixed with air preparatory to passing to the servicepipe of the lighting system, a portion of the mixture thus producedbeing by-passed to the auxiliary burner for maintaining the continuousvaporization of the liquid hydro-carbon in accordance with the demandfor gas.

The invention has forrone of its objects to improve and simplify theconstruction and operation of generators of this character so as to becomparativelyeasy `and inexpensive to manufacture, highly ehicient, safeand reliable in service, and so designed as to' insure a steady burningof the lamps or lights without danger of breakage of mantles, globes orthe like since back flaring is effectively eliminated. Y y

A further object of the invention is the provision of a protectivecasing forithe generator:v

which is so designed as to' permit a free circulation of airtherethrough so that danger ofl fire is reduced to a minimum in case 4ofleakage and ignition of the liquid-hydrocarbon.

Another object of the invention .is `to provide means for controllingthe supply of mixture to the auxiliary burner soas to regulate thegenerator to operate any desired number y of mantles, as for instance,as low as three or as high as fifty, without in anyway changing themechanism of the generaton f VVithithese4 objects in-.view and others,as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises thevarious novel features of construction and arrangementV of parts whichwill 'be :more fully 'described hereinafter and set forthzwithparticularity in the claims appended hereto.

In the accomp anying drawings, which illustrate one of the embodimentsof the invention, Figure l is a front view of the generator with thedoor of the casing removed. Fig. 2- is a central vertical sectionthereof. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is asimilar section on line 4 4, Fig. 2, drawn on an enlarged scale. Fig. 5is an enlarged sectional view of the burner or nozzle showing theneedle-regulating valve. Similar reference characters are employed todesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the generator Dwhich is inclosedin a metal casing B, the latter being secured to a suitable support byfastenings passing through apertured lugs l The casing is composed of anouter box 2 and an inner box or chamber 3 spaced from the walls of theouter box by members 4, thereby forming an air s ace or chamber 5. Theouter. box 2 has its ottom and top provided with. perforations 6 forinsuringa free circulation of air through the space. 5 and therebykeeping the outer shell Vof the casing comparatively cool in case ofignition of fuel from` the generator through failureto cut off) thesupply or any. other cause.- The casinghas a door which is indicatedvbythe dotted line 7 which. closes the innerand'outer shell so as to form acomplete housing for the generator.

The generator A is fed with liquid fuel, such asalcohol, gasolene or thelike, by means of a small pipe 8 that discharges into a tube 9 whichpasses through a ertures in the wall of the inner `and outer s ells ofthe casing and-Screws into the fitting or connection l0. This tube is oflarger diameter than the sup ly pipe 8 andis filled with a porousmateria 9', such as asbestos, which operates to prevent a back flare ofgas through the generator in case the pressure inthe fuel reservoir orstorage tank should fall too low.' At the outer end of the tube 9 is acontrolling valve 1l manually operated by the hand wheel 12 forregulating the flow of fuel, and the pipe 8 is secured tothe casing ofthe valve l1 by a nut 13 engaging the tail piece 14 on the said pipe.The function of theV asbestosfilled tube 9 is an important feature ofthe resent invention for the reasonthat a flare back is detrimental inthat it destroys the mantles and glassware of the lam s. The connectionl0 is provided with aiguel-conducting passage 1S that communicates withi the coupling 9 and the flow of fuel is regufor enabling the valve tobe readily manipulated, there being a packing 24 around the stem forpreventing leakage of liquid fuel. The iitting l() has a vertical bore25 through Y which passes the stein 26 of the needle valve that controlsthe nozzle or tip of the generator, there being a lever 27 on the bottomend of the stem for manipulating the valve. The fitting 19 is connectedwith the body 28 of the pilot or auxiliary burner, the bottom of theburner being provided with a threaded opening 29 into which the upperend of the fitting 10 screws. On the bottom end of the fitting is a nut39 `for compressing the packing ring 31 around the stem 26 of theneedle-regulating valve.

The burner body 28 is a metal casting formed into an upper cylindricalchamber 32 and a lower cylindrical chamber 33 somewhat smaller than theother. The lower chamber is interiorly threaded at 34 for receiving thelower threaded end. of the vaporgenerating cylinder 35. The cylinder orhollow body 35 rises out of the burner body 28, and fitted around thecylinder is a rin T 36 that is seated on an internal annular shoulder 37at the upper end of the body 28, the said ring being provided withradial slots 38 and apertures 39, as clearly shown in F ig. 3, forpermitting gas toA discharge therefrom. This gas, which is produced by amixture of air and vaporsupplied from the generator, burns as a bluellame that encircles the wall of the vaporizing chamber' 40 so as toeffectively heat the same. The upper end of the hollow body 35 is formedinto a horizontal disk 41. that is disposed directly over the blue llameof the auxiliary burner and serves as a heat concentrator. Rising fromthe disk 41 is a hollow boss 42 that is interiorly threaded forreceiving the nozzle or tip 43 of the generator. This tip has anon-circular head l44 for receiving a wrench whereby the tip can bescrewed into the boss 42, the said tip having a threaded portion 45 forengagement with the boss. The lower end of the tip is reduced, as at 46,so as to provide a passage 47 between the bore of the boss 42 and saidreduced end of the tip for vapor to flow through the ports 48 of thetip. The tip, which is hollow, is formed with a jet-discharging opening49 through which the vapor issues at a high velocity, and adjacent thisopening is a conical seat 5() which coperates with the needle valve 51for regulating the size and velocity of the jet. The stem 26 of theneedle valve has athreaded portion 52 that engages the Vinternal threads53 provided in the bore of the tip at a point below the ports oropenings Yleakage of the generator.

48, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. By rotating the valve stem 26 by thelever 27, the needle valve can be moved toward or away from the valveseat 50.

The vapor-mixing device whereby the vaporized fuel discharging from thenozzle 43 is mixed with air, consists of a hollow body 54 that ispreferably a metal casting, the same being supported on and attached tothe vaporizing cylinder by means of the boss 42 screwed into a threadedo )ening 55 in the bottom of the said mixing chamber 54. This chamber isformed with a non-threaded opening 56 in its top directly in line withits bot tom opening 55, and projecting into the top opening is averticaly-disposed Bunsen tube 57, the lower end el the tube extendinginto the mixing chamber a suitable distance whereby the jet discharginginto the tube draws with it the requisite supply of air. Leading intothe body 54 is an air supply pipe 58 which, in case the generator islocated within a building, leads to a point outside the latter so as todraw in fresh air and at the same time prevent any possible leakage ofexplosive gas from the generator into the building, in case ofmismanagement or The Bunsen tube 57 is sup orted by a hollow head piece59 that has a t ireaded opening 60 in its bottom and into said opening,the lower end ol the Bunsen tube is threaded. Also threaded in the saidopening above the Bunsen tube is a funnel-shaped spreader 61 that risesfrom the hollow head piece 59 and extends into the service pipe 62indicated by dotted lines, whereby gas is supplied to the various lampsof the lighting sys# tem, the service pipe being connected to the headpiece by a threaded coupling 63.

The vaporizing llame of the generator is supported by a mixture of airand vapor which is supplied from the head piece 59 through separateby-passes 64 and 65. These by-passes are formed by elbow connections 66and 67 attached to and communicating with the head piece 59 and burnerbody 28 respectively, and pipe 68 connected with the elbow connections.By this means, there is a back flow of gas from the service pipe throughthe by-passes 64 and 65 to the upper cylinder 32 of the burner body sothat the generator will operate continuously after once being started.In order to vary the capacity of the generator to suit the number oflights to be used, the by-pass 65 has a controlling valve 69, the stemo1 which has a hand wheel 70 for conveniently opening and closing thevalve. When the valve is completely closed, a minimum amount of gas issupplied to the burner and hence the generating capacity will beminimum, and by Vopening the valve to diiierent degrees, the

capacity can be enlarged to suit the demand for gas in the hghtmgsystem. By controlling the supply of mixture to the auxiliary burner inthis manner, it will be found in practice that the system can beadjusted for efficient operation when the number of mantles in use isvaried over a wide range, as for instance, a uniform and suiiicientsupply of gas can be maintained to operate as few as three mantles or asmanyl as fifty with one size of generator. W ith a generator of thisconstruction, there is no necessity for a mineral filler of any kind,such as asbestos 'wicking, in the vaporizing chamber, and the iiuid asit enters the vaporizing chamber is converted into a gaseous state whichexerts a back pressure sufficient ,to overcome the pressure of the fuelfed from the tank, thus preventing an excess flow of fuel at any time tothe chamber. Another important feature of the invention is thearrangement of the needle valve 51 whereby the same acts as ananti-pulsator, thus insuring a uniform operation of the system. In caseof leakage of li uid gasolene, a drip cup 71, Fig. 4l, is provided atthe bottom of the generator with which the liquid fuel can be collected.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and of themethod of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the artto which the invention appertains, and while I have described theprinciple of operation of the invention, together with the apparatuswhich I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to haveit understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative, and thatsuch changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of theclaims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. In a generator,the combination of a burner body, a vaporizer arranged therein andcooperating with the body to form a gasreceiving chamber, an'aperturedremovable ring surrounding and fitted to the vaporizer and supported onthe body for supplying the burner flame, a disk on the vaporizerarranged over the ring, a mixing chamber supported on the vaporizer, anozzle discharging into the mixing chamber, a Bunsen tube leading intothe chamber at a point in line with the nozzle, a supply pipecommunicating with the chamber, means for supplying fuel to thevaporizer, a controlling valve1 for the nozzle, and a stem for the valveextending upwardly through the vaporizer.

2. In a generator, the combination of al burner body, a vaporizerarranged to be heated by the flame from the burner, a disk formed on thetop of the vaporizer, a central boss on the disk, amixing chambersupported on the boss above the disk, an airsupply pipe connected withthe chamber, a tube leading into the chamber, `a nozzle on the boss'fordischarging vapor from the vaporizer to the said tube, a head piecesupporting the said tube, by-passes extending from the vhead piece tothe burner body and supporting the head piece, and a service pipeconnected with the head piece.

3. In a generator, the combination of a burner body, a fuel supply pipe,a connection between the pipe and the bottom of the burner body, a rodextending through the connection, a packing box around the rod Where thesame enters the said connection, a vaporizer supported on the burnerbody and receiving li uid fuel through the said connection, a nozz eremovably mounted in the upper end of the vaporizer, having avalve-seat, a valve on said rod adapted to engage the seat, a mixingchamber removably mounted over the nozzle, an air inlet pipe connectedwith the said chamber, a Bunsen tube leading into the chamber at a pointin line with the nozzle, a discharge conduit for the mixture arranged toreceive the mixture from the Bunsen tube, and controllable means fordelivering mixture from the said conduit to the burner body.

4. In a generator, the combination of a burner open at the top andhaving an opening at its bottom, a vaporizer open at its bottom andremovably secured in the said burner, means for supplying fuel throughthe said bottom opening to the vaporizer, said burner having an internalannular shoulder at its top, a perforated ring resting on the shoulderand surrounding the vaporizer, said vaporizer cooperating with theburner to form a gas-receiving chamber, a disk arranged on the vaporizerat a point above the ring, a hollow boss on the top of the vaporizer, anozzle removably secured in the boss and having ports communicating withthe vaporizer, a needle valve threaded in the nozzle, a hollow bodyhaving a threaded opening in its bottom for screwing on said boss andhaving a non-threaded opening in its top, a tube extending into theupper opening and having its lower end spaced from the nozzle, an airsupply tube leading into the said hollow body, a head piece supportingthe said tube, a spreader in the head piece and communicating with thetube, a by-pass connected with the head piece and burner body, and aservice pipe connected with the head piece.

5. In a generator, the combination of a vaporizer having an opening atits top, a nozzle threaded in theopening and provided with a boreinternally threaded, a needle valve having a thread engaging theinternal thread ofthe nozzle, a stem for the valve extending out of thebottom of the vaporizer, a burner body into which the lower end of thevaporizer is threaded, a fuel supply connection attached to the burnerbody and through which the stem passes, elbow connections supported onand Communicating with the the first-mentioned elbow sections with thoseburner body, a Imxlng chamber disposed on the head piece.

over and secured on the vaporizer, a Bunsen In testimony whereof Izillix my signature tube extending at its lowei1 end lnto the mixinpresence oi two witnesses.

ing chamber, a head ieee connected with the OSCAR J. SEEHAUSEN. upperend of the tu e, a service pipe oon- Witnesses: neeted with the headpiece, elbow eonnec- JOHN L. FLETCHER,

tions on the head piece, and pipes connecting K. ALLEN.

